Sand bath bathtub



Nov. 18, 1969 P. F. DE HATE SAND BATH BATHTUB Filed March 27, 1967 1 NVE N TO R. E .D'flflTE 122 Arm/mm United States Patent 3,478,745 SANDBATH BATHTUB Paul F. De Hate, 629 E. 4th St., Long Beach, Calif. 90812Filed Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 625,997 Int. Cl. A61m 35/00; A61h 33/04,9/00 US. Cl. 128-369 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bathtubcontaining loose sand is mounted on a platform. The occupant sits orreclines in the bathtub with the sand partially covering him. Hot wateris then added to the sand. Screened drain means is also provided in thebottom of the bathtub for removing the excess liquid.

A tub for sand bathing is provided with means to heat the sand While theperson is immersed therein. The occupant may be either sitting orreclining, and in this position sand is added to the tub to cover atleast a portion of the body of the occupant. Thereafter hot water ispoured onto the sand and around the occupant until the sand issaturated. Excess water is drained 01f at the bottom of the tub. After abath has been given and the occupant removed, the sand is sterilizedwith steam which is forced through the sand under pressure.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel sand bath bathtub,preferably formed of Fiberglas or the like, and from which excess watermay be. drained through appropriate sumps in the bottom of the tub.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel sand bath bathtubin which the sand within the tub may be sterilized after use by means ofsteam conduits, which extend into the tub and permit steam to filterthrough the sand under pressure to thus sterilize the sand.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel sand bath bathtubwhich can be readily occupied by the user, and which provides effectivewarm or hot sand bath on any part or all of the body of the occupant.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel sand bathbathtub which will effectively retain a quantity of sand therein withoutdanger of excessive drainage or loss of sand from the tub.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of my sand bath bathtub.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the tub illustrating one of thedrainage sumps.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates aplatform or stand upon which the rectangular tub 2 is placed. Theplatform 1 is preferably an integral unit of sturdy construction, andwhich will effectively support the tub 2 when filled with sand, and alsowhen occupied by the user. The stand 1 may be formed of wood or metalparts, as desired. The tub 2 is preferably formed of Fiberglas or someother appropriate plastic material suitably reinforced by the ribs 3, sothat the tub will "ice retain its proper shape while in use. The tub 2is open at the top only to permit the occupant to enter through the top,and also for the purpose of filling or emptying the tub with therequired sand 4 which will suit the needs of the occupant. A rail 5 onthe top edge of the tube 2 enables the occupant to assist in raising andlowering himself from the sand 4. The occupant enters the tub byclimbing the stairs 6-, preferably at one side or the end of the tub 2,and a handrail 7 can be used by the occupant to assist him in climbingthe stairs 6. The oc cupant then steps into the tub 2 in either asitting or reclining position and sand is added to the required level onthe person of the occupant. An appropriate layer of sand has previouslybeen placed on the floor of the tub 2 before it is occupied.

While the occupant is sitting or reclining in the tub 2 the sandcompletely encircles him to the required height. Hot or warm water isnow added to the stand until the sand is saturated. Excess water willdrain from the bottom of the tub 2 as follows: A plurality of depressedsumps 8 are provided in the floor of the tub 2, and are covered with anappropriate screen 9 to prevent sand from draining from the tub. A drainpipe 10 extends approximately the length of the tub 2 and at the bottomthereof, and this drain pipe is provided with nipples 11 which extendinto each of the sumps 8 and thus will collect excess water in the drainpipe 10 and conduct that water to an appropriate sump (not shown). Asand trap 12 in the pipe 10 will catch any particles of sand which mightdrop from the tub 2 and into the sumps 8.

In order to sterilize the sand 4 in the tub 2 after its use by anoccupant, the sand may be sterilized by live steam which is forcedthrough the pipe 13 under pressure. This pipe extends along the bottomof the tub 2 and inside of the tub and the pipe is perforated to permitsteam to pass into and through the sand, thus effectively sterilizingit.

Having described by invention, I claim:

1. A sand bath bathtub comprising a platform, a tub resting on theplatform, loose sand in the tub, said tub being open at the top thereofand closed on all the other sides, and drain means in the bottom of thetub to drain excess water therefrom, and said drain means consisting ofa sump, a drain pipe extending from the sump, and a screen extendingover the sump.

2. A sand bath bathtub as recited in claim 1, and said tub being formedof Fiberglas, and reinforcing ribs on the walls of the tub.

3. A sand bath bathtub as recited in claim 1, and said drain meansconsisting of a sump, a drain pipe extending from the sump, and a screenextending over the sump, said tub being formed of Fiberglas, andreinforcing ribs on the walls of the tub.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,791 2/ 1895 Doehring 1283 69668,661 2/ 1901 Schneider 4-162 XR 2,956,565 10/ 1960' Anderson.

. FOREIGN PATENTS 1,020,986 2/1966 Great Britain.

' L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner

